Semiconductor device and method of manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

A semiconductor device may include a first cell structure, a second cell structure, a pad structure, a circuit, and an opening. The pad structure may include a first stepped structure and a second stepped structure located between the first cell structure and the second cell structure. The first stepped structure may include first pads electrically connected to the first and second cell structures and stacked on top of each other, and the second stepped structure may include second pads electrically connected to the first and second cell structures and stacked on top of each other. The circuit may be located under the pad structure. The opening may pass through the pad structure to expose the circuit, and may be located between the first stepped structure and the second stepped structure to insulate the first pads and the second pads from each other.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) toKorean patent application number 10-2016-0054202 filed on May 2, 2016,which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field

Various embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to anelectronic device and a method of manufacturing the same, and moreparticularly to a three-dimensional semiconductor device and a method ofmanufacturing the same.

2. Related Art

Non-volatile memory devices can retain stored data regardless of whetheror not they are connected to power supplies. As a two-dimensionalnon-volatile memory technology is reaching its physical scaling limit,some semiconductor manufacturers are producing a three-dimensional (3D)non-volatile memory device by stacking memory cells on top of each otheron a substrate.

A three-dimensional memory device may include gate electrodes stackedalternately with interlayer insulating layers, and may also includechannel layers passing through the gate electrodes and interlayerinsulating layers. To improve reliability of the three-dimensionalnon-volatile memory device, various structures and manufacturing methodsare being developed.

SUMMARY

According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device may include a firstcell structure, a second cell structure, a pad structure, a circuit, andan opening. The pad structure may include a first stepped structure anda second stepped structure located between the first cell structure andthe second cell structure. The first stepped structure may include firstpads electrically connected to the first and second cell structures andstacked on top of each other, and the second stepped structure mayinclude second pads electrically connected to the first and second cellstructures and stacked on top of each other. The circuit may be locatedunder the pad structure. The opening may pass through the pad structureto expose the circuit, and may be located between the first steppedstructure and the second stepped structure to insulate the first padsand the second pads from each other.

According to an embodiment, a semiconductor device may include a firstcell structure, a pad structure, a circuit, a first dummy steppedstructure, and a second dummy stepped structure. The first cellstructure may include first to 4n^(th) layers. The pad structure may beelectrically connected to the first cell structure. The circuit may belocated under the pad structure. The pad structure may include a firststepped structure including first pads stacked on top of each other, asecond stepped structure including second pads stacked on top of eachother, an opening passing through the pad structure to expose thecircuit and located between the first stepped structure and the secondstepped structure to insulate the first pads and the second pads fromeach other. The first dummy stepped structure may be located between thefirst stepped structure and the opening, and may include first wiringlines stacked on top of each other. The first wiring lines mayelectrically connect the first pads to the first to 3n^(th) layers ofthe first cell structure. The second dummy stepped structure may belocated between the second stepped structure and the opening andincluding second wiring lines stacked on top of each other. The secondwiring lines may electrically connect the second pads to the first to3n^(th) layers of the first cell structure.

According to an embodiment, a method of manufacturing a semiconductordevice may include forming a circuit in a pad region of a substrateincluding a first cell region, the pad region and a second cell regionsequentially arranged in a first direction. The method may includeforming a stacked structure including first to 4nth layers stacked onthe substrate in which the circuit is formed (where n is a naturalnumber of 2 or more). The method may include forming a first cellstructure in the first cell region, a second cell structure in thesecond cell region, and a pad structure in the pad region by partiallypatterning the pad region of the stacked structure. The pad structuremay include a first stepped structure including first pads stacked ontop of each other, the first pads electrically connected to the firstand second cell structures, and a second stepped structure includingsecond pads stacked on top of each other, the second pads electricallyconnected to the first and second cell structures. The method mayinclude forming an opening through the stacked structure to expose thecircuit. The opening may be located between the first stepped structureand the second stepped structure to insulate the first pads and thesecond pads from each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1A to 1D are diagrams illustrating an example structure of asemiconductor device according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 2A to 2E are diagrams illustrating an example structure of asemiconductor device according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 3A to 6A and 3B to 6B are diagrams illustrating an example of amethod of manufacturing a semiconductor device according to anembodiment.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating an example structure of asemiconductor and a manufacturing method thereof according to anembodiment.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are diagrams illustrating an example configuration of amemory system according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are diagrams illustrating an example configuration of acomputing system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, various example embodiments will be described in detailwith reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings,thicknesses and lengths of components may be exaggerated for convenienceof illustration. In the following description, a detailed explanation ofrelated functions and constitutions may be omitted for simplicity andconciseness. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughoutthe specification and drawings.

FIGS. 1A to 1D are diagrams illustrating an example structure of asemiconductor device according to an embodiment. FIGS. 1A and 1B arelayout views. FIG. 1C is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A′ ofFIG. 1A. FIG. 1D is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B′ of FIG.1A.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B, a semiconductor device according to anembodiment may include a substrate, cell structures CS1 and CS2, a padstructure PS and a circuit. The substrate may include cell regions CR1and CR2 and a pad region PR. For example, the pad region PR may belocated between the first cell region CR1 and the second cell regionCR2. In addition, the semiconductor device may perform an eraseoperation on a block basis. Each memory block MB may include the firstcell region CR1, the second cell region CR2, and the pad region PRlocated between the first cell region CR1 and the second cell regionCR2.

The cell structures CS1 and CS2 may be located in the cell regions CR1and CR2 of the substrate, respectively. The cell structures CS1 and CS2may include a stacked series of conductive layers interleaved withinsulating layers, and may also include channel layers CH passingthrough the stacked series of conductive layers and insulating layers.At least one of the lowermost conductive layers may be a lower selectionline, and at least one of the uppermost conductive layers may be anupper selection line. The remaining conductive layers may be word lines.As a result, at least one lower selection transistor, a plurality ofmemory cells and at least one upper selection transistor that areconnected in series to each other may form a single memory string.Memory strings may be arranged in a vertical direction.

For example, the first cell structure CS1 may include at least one firstlower selection line, a plurality of first word lines and at least onefirst upper selection line that are sequentially stacked on top of eachother. The second cell structure CS2 may include at least one secondlower selection line, a plurality of second word lines and at least onesecond upper selection line that are sequentially stacked on top of eachother. In addition, the first cell structure CS1 may include firstvertical memory strings, and the second cell structure CS2 may includesecond vertical memory strings.

The pad structure PS may be located in the pad region PR of thesubstrate. For example, the pad structure PS may be located between thefirst cell structure CS1 and the second cell structure CS2. In addition,the circuit may be located under the pad structure PS, and at least aportion of the circuit may be exposed through an opening OP passingthrough the pad structure PS. The opening OP may be filled with aninsulating pattern IP. The first cell structure CS1, the pad structurePS and the second cell structure CS2 may be sequentially arranged in afirst direction I-I′. In addition, the opening OP may have a linearshape extending in the first direction I-I′.

The pad structure PS may include a stacked series of conductive layersinterleaved with insulating layers. The first cell structure CS1, thesecond cell structure CS2 and the pad structure PS may be electricallyconnected to the pad structure PS. For example, the pad structure PS maybe partially patterned into stepped structures having various depths, sothat pads P1 to P4 for respectively applying a bias to the stackedconductive layers may be formed. In addition, non-patterned portions ofthe conductive layers of the pad structure PS may function as wiringlines electrically connecting the pads P1 to P4 to the conductive layersof the cell structures CS1 and CS2.

The pad structure PS may include a first stepped structure S1 and asecond stepped structure S2, which are disposed at both sides of theopening OP. For example, the first stepped structure S1 may includefirst pads P1 located at one side of the opening OP. The second steppedstructure S2 may include second pads P2 located at the other side of theopening OP. The first stepped structure S1 and the second steppedstructure S2 may have a structure that is symmetrical about the openingOP1.

The pad structure PS may include a first dummy stepped structure D1,which is located between the first stepped structure S1 and the openingOP, and a second dummy stepped structure D2, which is located betweenthe second stepped structure S2 and the opening OP. The first steppedstructure S1, the first dummy stepped structure D1, the opening OP, thesecond dummy stepped structure D2 and the second stepped structure S2may be sequentially arranged in a second direction II-II′.

The first dummy stepped structure D1 may include first wiring linesstacked on top of each other. The first wiring lines may electricallyconnect the first pads P1 to the first and second cell structures CS1and CS2. The first dummy stepped structure D1 may have the same orgreater height than the first stepped structure S1. The second dummystepped structure D2 may include second wiring lines stacked on top ofeach other. The second wiring lines may electrically connect the secondpads P2 to the first and second cell structures CS1 and CS2. The seconddummy stepped structure D2 may have the same or greater height than thesecond stepped structure S2.

For example, the first pads P1 may be electrically connected to thefirst word line and the second word line disposed at the same levelthrough the first wiring lines, or may be electrically connected to thefirst lower selection line and the second lower selection line disposedat the same level through the first wiring lines. In addition, thesecond pads P2 may be electrically connected to the first word line andthe second word line disposed at the same level through the secondwiring lines, or may be electrically connected to the first lowerselection line and the second lower selection line disposed at the samelevel through the second wiring lines.

The pad structure PS may include a third stepped structure S3 contactingthe first cell structure CS1 and a fourth stepped structure S4contacting the second cell structure CS2. The third stepped structure S3may be located between the first cell structure CS1 and the opening OP,and may include third pads P3 stacked on top of each other. In addition,the fourth stepped structure S4 may be located between the second cellstructure CS2 and the opening OP, and may include fourth pads P4 stackedon top of each other. The third stepped structure S3 and the fourthstepped structure S4 may have a structure that is symmetrical about theopening OP.

For example, the third pads P3 may directly contact and be electricallyconnected to the first upper selection line at the same level, or maydirectly contact and be electrically connected to the first word line atthe same level. The fourth pads P4 may directly contact and beelectrically connected to the second upper selection line at the samelevel, or may directly contact and be electrically connected to thesecond word line at the same level.

A first slit SL1 may be located in each memory block MB. The first slitSL1 may separate upper selection lines of neighboring channel layers CHfrom each other. The first slit SL1 may pass through the second cellstacked structure CS2 in a stacking direction to an extent that thedepth of the first slit SL1 is enough to pass through the second upperselection line. The first slit SL1 may extend in the first directionI-I′ and partially pass through the fourth stepped structure S4 toseparate, among the fourth pads P4, the fourth pads P4 coupled to thesecond upper selection line. Similarly, the first slit SL1 may belocated to pass through the first cell stacked structure CS1 and thethird stepped structure S3.

A second slit SL2 may be located at a boundary between neighboringmemory blocks MB. The second slit SL2 may electrically separate theneighboring memory blocks MB and have enough depth to completely passthrough the cell stacked structures CS1 and CS2 and the pad structure PSin a stacking direction in which the layers are stacked.

In addition, a third slit SL3 may be located in each memory block MB.The third slit SL3 may extend in the first direction I-I′ and overlap atleast a portions of the opening OP. The third slit SL3 may have enoughdepth to completely pass through the cell stacked structures CS1 and CS2and the pad structure PS in the stacking direction. However, the firstto third slits SL1 to SL3 may have various depths depending on shapes ofa lower selection line, a word line and an upper selection line.

Referring to FIG. 1C, the pad structure PS may be located in the padregion PR of the substrate 20, and a circuit CIRCUIT may be locatedunder the pad structure PS. The circuit CIRCUIT may be an X-decoderX-DEC. The pad structure PS may include stacked layers 0 to 16, each ofwhich may include a conductive layer A and an insulating layer B. Forexample, each of the layers 0 to 16 may include the lower conductivelayer A and the upper insulating layer B, or the upper conductive layerA and the lower insulating layer B.

The first stepped structure S1 may include the first pads P1 of thefirst to twelfth layers 1 to 12. The first to third layers 1 to 3 may beelectrically connected to the first lower selection lines of the firstvertical memory string and the second lower selection lines of thesecond vertical memory strings. The fourth to twelfth layers 4 to 12 maybe electrically connected to the first word lines of the first verticalmemory string and the second word lines of the second vertical memorystring.

The third stepped structure S3 may include the third pads P3 of thethirteenth to sixteenth layers 13 to 16. The thirteenth layer 13 may beelectrically connected to the first word line of the first verticalmemory string. In addition, the fourteenth to sixteenth layers 14 to 16may be electrically connected to the first upper selection line of thefirst vertical memory string.

The fourth stepped structure S4 may include the fourth pads P4 of thethirteenth to sixteenth layers 13 to 16. The thirteenth layer 13 may beelectrically connected to the second word line of the second verticalmemory string. In addition, the fourteenth to sixteenth layers 14 to 16may be electrically connected to the second upper selection line of thesecond vertical memory string.

Referring to FIG. 1D, the first dummy stepped structure D1 may includethe stacked layers 0 to 16. The first to twelfth layers 1 to 12electrically connected to the first pads P1 may function as first wiringlines L1. Referring to FIG. 1C, it is shown that the first pads P1 ofthe ninth to twelfth layers 9 to 12 are electrically connected to onlythe first cell structure CS1. However, referring to FIG. 1D, the firstpads P1 of the ninth to twelfth layers 9 to 12 are electricallyconnected to the second cell structure CS2 through the first wiringlines L1. Similarly, referring to FIG. 1C, it is shown that the firstpads P1 of the fifth to eighth layers 5 to 8 electrically float.However, referring to FIG. 1D, the first pads P1 of the fifth to eighthlayers 5 to 8 and the first and second cell structures CS1 and CS2 areelectrically connected to each other through the first wiring lines L1.

Accordingly, the first cell structure CS1 and the second cell structureCS2 may be located at both sides of the pad structure PS, and the firstcell structure CS1 and the second cell structure CS2 may share the padstructure PS. Therefore, the distance between the circuit CIRCUIT andthe cell structures CS1 and CS2 may be shorter than that of a possibleconfiguration that arranges a circuit at only one side of a cell region,and thus RC delay may be reduced and the program speed may be increased.

In addition, since the circuit CIRCUIT and the opening OP are located atthe center of the pad region PR and the pads are disposed at both sidesof the opening OP, an area of the pad region PR may be reduced. Inaddition, processes may be simplified since the pads are formed bypartially patterning the stacked layers and the stacked layers of thedummy stepped structure are used as wiring lines.

FIGS. 2A to 2E are diagrams illustrating an example structure of asemiconductor device according to an embodiment. The example structureof the semiconductor device here may include features that are the sameas or similar to those previously discussed, and thus any repetitivedetailed description will be omitted or simplified.

FIG. 2A is a layout view of an interconnection structure. Forconvenience of explanation, interconnects and pads are illustrated indetail, whereas some other parts of the interconnection structure arenot illustrated in detail. FIG. 2B is a cross-sectional view taken inthe first direction I-I′ and illustrating a first interconnectionstructure C1. Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, among the first pads P1 ofthe ninth to twelfth layers 9 to 12 of the first stepped structure S1and the second pads P2 of the ninth to twelfth layers 9 to 12 of thesecond stepped structure S2, the first pad P1 and the second pad P2disposed at the same level may be electrically connected to each otherby the first interconnection structure C1. In addition, the firstinterconnection C1 may couple the electrically connected first andsecond pads P1 and P2 in common to the circuit CIRCUIT. The third pad P3of the thirteenth layer 13 may also be electrically connected by thefirst interconnection C1. In addition, the third pad P3 may also beconnected to the circuit CIRCUIT by the first interconnection C1.Depending on a driving method, the third pad P3 may not be connected tocircuit CIRCUIT.

For example, the first interconnection structure C1 may include a firstcontact plug 31 coupled to the first pad P1, a second contact plug 32coupled to the second pad P2, a third contact plug 33 located in theopening OP and coupled to the circuit CIRCUIT, and a wiring line 34electrically connecting the first to third contact plugs 31 to 33 toeach other and extending in the second direction II-II′.

FIG. 2C is a cross-sectional view taken in the first direction I-I′ andillustrating the second interconnection structure C2. Referring to FIGS.2A and 2C, the third pad P3 and the fourth pad P4 disposed at the samelevel, among the third pads P3 of the third stepped structure S3 and thefourth pads P4 of the fourth stepped structure S4, may be electricallyconnected to the second interconnection structure C2. For example, thesecond interconnection structure C2 may include first contact plugs 35respectively coupled to the third pads P3, the second contact plugs 36respectively coupled to the fourth pads P4, and wiring lines 37electrically connecting the first contact plugs 35 and the secondcontact plugs 36. Although it is illustrated that one vertical memorystring includes three upper selection transistors and gate electrodes ofupper selection transistors are electrically connected to each other,the invention is not limited thereto.

FIGS. 2D and 2E are cross-sectional views taken in the second directionII-II′ and illustrating a third interconnection structure C3 and afourth interconnection structure C4. Referring to FIGS. 2A, 2D, and 2E,the first pads P1 of the first to third layers 1 to 3 of the firststepped structure S1 may be electrically connected to the circuitCIRCUIT by the third interconnection structure C3. The thirdinterconnection structure C3 may include the first contact plugs 31coupled to the first pads P1, the third contact plug 33 coupled to thecircuit CIRCUIT, and the wiring lines 34 electrically connecting thefirst contact plugs 31 to the third contact plug 33. In addition, thesecond pads P2 of the first to third layers 1 to 3 of the second steppedstructure S2 may be electrically connected to the circuit CIRCUIT by thefourth interconnection structure C4. The fourth interconnectionstructure C4 may include the second contact plugs 32 coupled to thesecond pads P2, the third contact plug 33 coupled to the circuitCIRCUIT, and the wiring lines 34 electrically connecting the secondcontact plugs 32 to the third contact plug 33.

As for the first to third layers 1 to 3 corresponding to first andsecond lower selection lines, by connecting the first pads P1 and thesecond pads P2 to the circuit, the first lower selection line and thesecond lower selection line may be independently driven.

Although it is illustrated that a single vertical memory string includesthree lower selection transistors, ten memory cells and three upperselection transistors, the invention is not limited thereto. The typeand number of transistors included in a single vertical memory stringmay vary. Therefore, the number of stacked layers and the shape of thepattern for forming the pad structure PS may vary accordingly.

FIGS. 3A to 6B are diagrams illustrating an example of a method ofmanufacturing a semiconductor device according to an embodiment. FIGS.3A, 4A, 5A and 6A are layout views, and FIGS. 3B, 4B, 5B, and 6B arecross-sectional views.

Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, a stacked structure including a pluralityof layers 42 to 58 stacked on top of each other may be formed on thesubstrate 20. For example, the substrate 20 may include a cell regionand a pad region. The pad region may be located between a first cellregion and a second cell region. The plurality of layers 42 to 58 may beformed in the first cell region, the pad region and the second cellregion.

Each of the layers 42 to 58 may include a first material layer C and asecond material layer D. For example, each of the layers 42 to 58 mayinclude the lower first material layer C and the upper second materiallayer D, or may include the upper first material layer C and the lowersecond material layer D.

The first material layers C may be provided to form conductive layerssuch as a word line, a selection line, and a pad. The second materiallayers D may insulate the stacked conductive layers from each other. Forexample, the first material layers C may include sacrificial layerscontaining nitrides, and the second material layers D may includeinsulating layers containing oxides. In another example, the firstmaterial layers C may include conductive layers containing polysiliconor tungsten, and the second material layers D may include insulatinglayers containing oxides. The first material layers C may includeconductive layers containing doped polysilicon, and the second materiallayers D may include sacrificial layers containing undoped polysilicon.

Though not illustrated, channel layers passing through the stackedlayers 42 to 58 in the cell region and data storage layers surroundingsidewalls of the respective channel layers may be formed. Examples ofthe data storage layers may include a floating gate containing asilicon-based conductive material, a charge trap layer containing anonconductive material such as nitrides, a layer containing a phasechange material, and a layer containing nanodots.

Subsequently, a first mask pattern 59 may be formed over the stackedstructure. The first mask pattern 59 may be provided to form a dummystepped structure, and may include first openings OP1 having a linearshape extending in the second direction II-II′. Subsequently, the layer58 of the stacked layers 42 to 58 may be partially etched using thefirst mask pattern 59 as an etch barrier. The first mask pattern 59 maybe reduced such that the first opening OP1 may extend in the firstdirection I-I′. Subsequently, the layers 58 and 57 of the stacked layers42 to 58 may be etched using the reduced first mask pattern 59 as anetch barrier. By repetitively performing the etch process while reducingthe first mask pattern 59 as described above, some (55 to 58) of thestacked layers 42 to 58 may be patterned into a plurality of n-levelstepped structures. Here, n may be a natural number of 2 or more (e.g.,n=4).

As a result, the first and second dummy stepped structures D1 and D2described above with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B may be formed. Inaddition, the third stepped structure S3, in which the third pads P3 ofthe stacked layers 55 to 58 coupled to the first cell structure CS1 arestacked, and the fourth stepped structure S4, in which the fourth padsP4 of the stacked layers 55 to 58 coupled to the second cell structureCS2 are stacked, may be formed. Subsequently, the first mask pattern 59may be removed.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, a second mask pattern 60 may be formedover the stacked structure. The second mask pattern 60 may be used toform first and second stepped structures by partially patterning thestacked layers 51 to 58. The second mask pattern 60 may cover the firstand second dummy stepped structures D1 and D2 and the third and fourthstepped structures S3 and S4, and may include second openings OP2 formedin the shape of an island to expose an area in which a stepped structurewill be additionally formed. For example, the second openings P2 mayinclude an opening exposing an area where pads of n lowermost layerswill be formed, and may also include an opening where the first andsecond pads P1 and P2 of the stacked layers 51 to 54 will be formed.

Subsequently, the stacked layers 51 to 58 may be partially etched usingthe second mask pattern 60 as an etch barrier. For example, the stackedlayers 51 to 54 may be patterned into a step shape. As a result, some ofthe first and second pads P1 and P2 described above with reference toFIGS. 1A and 1B may be formed. For example, the first and second pads P1and P2 of the stacked layers 51 to 54 may be formed. Subsequently, thesecond mask pattern 60 may be removed.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5B, a third mask pattern 61 may be formed overthe stacked structure. The third mask pattern 61 may be used topartially pattern the stacked layers 42 to 58 to form first and secondstepped structures. The third mask pattern 61 may cover the first andsecond dummy stepped structures D1 and D2, the third and fourth steppedstructures S3 and S4, and the first and second pads P1 and P2. The thirdmask pattern 61 may include third openings OP3 formed in the shape of anisland to expose an area where a stepped structure will be additionallyformed. For example, the third openings P3 may include an openingexposing an area where n lowermost pads will be formed, and an openingexposing an area where the first and second pads P1 and P2 of thestacked layers 43 to 50 will be formed.

Subsequently, the stacked layers 43 to 58 may be etched using the thirdmask pattern 61 as an etch barrier. For example, the stacked layers 43to 50 may be patterned into a step shape by etching 2n (e.g., 2n=8)layers. As a result, some of the first and second pads P1 and P2described above with reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B may be formed. Forexample, the first and second pads P1 and P2 of the stacked layers 43 to50 may be formed. Subsequently, the third mask pattern 61 may beremoved.

Depending on the number of layers included in the stacked structure, thetotal number of iterations of mask pattern forming processes and etchingprocesses may be determined. For example, n layers may be etched fromthe stacked structure by using the second mask pattern 60, 2n layers maybe etched from the stacked structure by using the third mask pattern 61,and 4n layers may be etched using a fourth mask pattern (notillustrated).

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, after a fourth opening OP4 passing throughthe stacked layers 42 to 58 to is formed to expose the circuit CIRCUIT,an insulating pattern IP may be formed in the fourth opening OP4. Afterthe first slits SL1 are formed in the memory block, a first slitinsulating layer may be formed in the first slits SL1. The first slitsSL1 may be deep enough to pass through the layers 56 to 58, which willbe used as upper selection lines of a cell structure, and may extend tothe pad region to insulate the pads P3 and P4 of the layers 56 to 58from each other.

Subsequently, the second slits SL2 may be formed at the boundary betweenneighboring memory blocks, and the third slit SL3 may be formed in thememory block. The second and third slits SL2 and SL3 may be deep enoughto completely pass through the stacked layers 42 to 58. Subsequently,first and second wiring lines of first and second dummy steppedstructures and first to fourth pads of first to fourth steppedstructures may be formed, and the second and third slits SL2 and SL3 maybe used as a passage for materials that are inserted or removed whilethe stepped structures are being formed.

For example, if the first material layers C are sacrificial layers andthe second material layers D are insulating layers, the first materiallayers C may be replaced by conductive layers through the second slitsSL2. As a result, the first and second wiring lines of the first andsecond dummy stepped structures may be formed, and the first to fourthpads P1 to P4 of the first to fourth stepped structures may be formed.If the first material layers C are conductive layers and the secondmaterial layers D are insulating layers, the first material layers C maybe silicided using the second slits SL2 as a passage for materials thatare used for the silicization. As a result, resistances of the first andsecond wiring lines and the first to fourth pads P1 to P4 may bereduced. In another example, when the first material layers C areconductive layers and the second material layers D are sacrificiallayers, the second material layers D may be replaced by insulatinglayers through the second slits SL2.

Subsequently, second and third slit insulating layers may be formed inthe second and third slits SL2 and SL3, respectively. The third slit SL3may overlap at least a part of the insulating pattern IP. Therefore, thestacked layers (42 to 58) of the first stepped structure and the firstdummy structure may be separated from the stacked layers (42 to 58) ofthe second stepped structure and the second dummy structure by theinsulating pattern IP and the third slit insulating layer.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are diagrams illustrating an example structure of asemiconductor device and a manufacturing method thereof according to anembodiment. FIG. 7A is a layout view and FIG. 7B is a cross-sectionalview. The pad structure that will be discussed below is similar to thepad structure PS described above with reference to FIGS. 2A to 2D, butthe pattern shape of the first to fourth stepped structures and thepositions of the pads are different from those of FIGS. 2A to 2D.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the first stepped structure S1 may includethe first pads P1 of the stacked layers 42 to 53, the second steppedstructure S2 may include the second pads P2 of the stacked layers 42 to53, the third stepped structure S3 may include the third pads P3 of thestacked layers 54 to 58, and the fourth stepped structure S4 may includethe fourth pads P4 of the stacked layers 54 to 58. As a result, sincethe pads P1 to P4 are more densely located, the area of the padstructure may be reduced.

This structure may be formed by applying the manufacturing methoddescribed above with reference to FIGS. 3A to 6B. First, referring toFIGS. 3A and 3B, the third and fourth pads P3 and P4 of the stackedlayers 54 to 58 may be formed by patterning the stacked layers 55 to 58into a step shape by using the first mask pattern 59. Subsequently,referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the stacked layers 43 to 58 may be etchedusing the second mask pattern 60. For example, (n−1) layers or (n+1)layers may be etched. That is, if n is four, three layers or five layersmay be etched. Subsequently, referring to FIG. 5A and FIG. 5B, thestacked layers 43 to 58 may be etched using the third mask pattern 61.For example, (2n+1) or (2n−1) layers may be etched. That is, if n isfour, nine layers or seven layers may be etched. When the first to 4nthlayers formed in the pad region are partially patterned, the steppedstructure may be formed into various shapes by controlling the number oflayers stacked.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory system 1000according to an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, the memory system 1000 according to anembodiment may include a memory device 1200 and a controller 1100.

The memory device 1200 may be used to store various types of data suchas text, graphic, and software code. The memory device 1200 may be anon-volatile memory, and may include the structure described withreference to FIGS. 1A to 7B. In addition, the memory device 1200 mayinclude a first cell structure, a second cell structure, a padstructure, a circuit, and an opening. The pad structure may be locatedbetween the first cell structure and the second cell structure, and maybe electrically connected to the first and second cell structures. Thecircuit may be located under the pad structure. The pad structure mayinclude an opening formed therethrough to expose the circuit. A firststepped structure may be located at one side of the opening, and mayinclude first pads stacked on top of each other. A second steppedstructure may be located at the other side of the opening, and mayinclude second pads stacked on top of each other. Since the memorydevice 1200 may be configured and manufactured in the above-describedmanner, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The controller 1100 may be coupled to an external device (e.g., a host)and the memory device 1200, and may access the memory device 1200 inresponse to a request from the host. For example, the controller 1100may control read, write, erase and background operations of the memorydevice 1200.

The controller 1100 may include a random access memory (RAM) 1110, acentral processing unit (CPU) 1120, a host interface 1130, an errorcorrection code (ECC) circuit 1140, and a memory interface 1150.

The RAM 1110 may serve as an operation memory of the CPU 1120, a cachememory between the memory device 1200 and the host, and a buffer memorybetween the memory device 1200 and the host. The RAM 1110 may bereplaced by a static random access memory (SRAM) or a read only memory(ROM).

The CPU 1120 may control general operations of the controller 1100. Forexample, the CPU 1120 may operate firmware such as a flash translationlayer (FTL) stored in the RAM 110.

The host interface 1130 may interface with the host. For example, thecontroller 1100 may communicate with the host through various interfaceprotocols including a Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol, a multimediacard (MMC) protocol, a peripheral component interconnection (PCI)protocol, a PCI-express (PCI-E) protocol, an Advanced TechnologyAttachment (ATA) protocol, a Serial-ATA protocol, a Parallel-ATAprotocol, a small computer small interface (SCSI) protocol, an enhancedsmall disk interface (ESDI) protocol, an Integrated Drive Electronics(IDE) protocol, a private protocol, or a combination thereof.

The ECC circuit 1140 may detect and correct errors included in data readfrom the memory device 1200, by using error correction codes (ECCs).

The memory interface 1150 may interface with the memory device 1200. Forexample, the memory interface 1150 may include a NAND interface or a NORinterface.

For example, the controller 1100 may further include a buffer memory(not illustrated) that may temporarily store data. The buffer memory maytemporarily store data externally transferred through the host interface1130, or may temporarily store data transferred from the memory device1200 through the memory interface 1150. The controller 1100 may furtherinclude ROM storing code data to interface with the host.

Since the memory system 1000 according to an embodiment includes thememory device 1200 having improved integration density andcharacteristics, the memory system 1000 may be miniaturized while havinggood characteristics.

FIG. 9 is a diagram illustrating an example of a memory system 1000′according to an embodiment. Hereinafter, any repetitive detaileddescription will be omitted or simplified.

As illustrated in FIG. 9, the memory system 1000′ according to anembodiment may include a memory device 1200′ and the controller 1100.The controller 1100 may include the RAM 1110, the CPU 1120, the hostinterface 1130, the ECC circuit 1140 and the memory interface 1150.

The memory device 1200′ may be a non-volatile memory device. The memorydevice 1200′ may include the memory cell strings described above withreference to FIGS. 1A to 7B. In addition, the memory device 1200′ mayinclude a first cell structure, a second cell structure, a padstructure, a circuit, and an opening. The pad structure may be locatedbetween the first cell structure and the second cell structure, and maybe electrically connected to the first and second cell structures. Thecircuit may be located under the pad structure. The pad structure mayinclude an opening formed therethrough to expose the circuit. A firststepped structure may be located at one side of the opening, and mayinclude first pads stacked on top of each other. The second steppedstructure may be located at the other side of the opening, and mayinclude second pads stacked on top of each other. Since the memorydevice 1200′ may be configured and manufactured in the above-describedmanner, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The memory device 1200′ may be a multi-chip package composed of aplurality of memory chips. The plurality of memory chips may be dividedinto a plurality of groups. The plurality of groups may communicate withthe controller 1100 through first to k^(th) channels CH1 to CHk,respectively. In addition, memory chips included in a single group maybe suitable for communicating with the controller 1100 through a commonchannel. The memory system 1000′ may be modified so that a single memorychip may be coupled to a single channel.

As described above, according to an embodiment, since the memory system1000′ includes the memory device 1200′ having improved integrationdensity and characteristics, the memory system 1000′ may be miniaturizedwhile having good characteristics. In addition, since the memory device1200′ may be formed using a multi-chip package, data storage capacityand the overall performance of the memory system 1000′ may be improved.

FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of a computing system 2000according to an embodiment.

Hereinafter, any repetitive detailed description will be omitted orsimplified.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the computing system 2000 according to anembodiment may include a memory device 2100, a CPU 2200, a random-accessmemory (RAM) 2300, a user interface 2400, a power supply 2500, and asystem bus 2600.

The memory device 2100 may store data input through the user interface2400 and data processed by the CPU 2200. The memory device 2100 may beelectrically coupled to the CPU 2200, the RAM 2300, the user interface2400, and the power supply 2500. For example, the memory device 2100 maybe coupled to the system bus 2600 through a controller (not illustrated)or may be directly coupled to the system bus 2600. When the memorydevice 2100 is directly coupled to the system bus 2600, the CPU 2200 andthe RAM 2300 may serve as the controller.

The memory device 2100 may be a non-volatile memory. The memory device2100 may be the memory string described above with reference to FIGS. 1Ato 7B. The memory device 2100 may include a first cell structure, asecond cell structure, a pad structure, a circuit, and an opening. Thepad structure may be located between the first cell structure and thesecond cell structure, and may be electrically connected to the firstand second cell structures. The circuit may be located under the padstructure. The pad structure may include an opening formed therethroughto expose the circuit. A first stepped structure may be located at oneside of the opening, and may include first pads stacked on top of eachother. The second stepped structure may be located at the other side ofthe opening, and may include second pads stacked on top of each other.Since the memory device 2100 may be configured and manufactured in thesame manner as described above, a detailed description thereof will beomitted.

In addition, as described above with reference to FIG. 9, the memorydevice 2100 may be a multi-chip package composed of a plurality ofmemory chips.

The computing system 2000 having the above-described configuration maybe one of various components of an electronic device, such as acomputer, an ultra-mobile PC (UMPC), a workstation, a net-book, personaldigital assistants (PDAs), a portable computer, a web tablet, a wirelessphone, a mobile phone, a smart phone, an e-book, a portable multimediaplayer (PMP), a portable game machine, a navigation device, a black box,a digital camera, a three-dimensional (3D) television, a digital audiorecorder, a digital audio player, a digital picture recorder, a digitalpicture player, a digital video recorder, a digital video player, adevice for transmitting/receiving information in wireless environments,one of various electronic devices for home networks, one of variouselectronic devices for computer networks, one of various electronicdevices for telematics networks, an RFID device, and/or one of variousdevices for computing systems, etc.

As described above, since the computing system 2000 according to anembodiment includes the memory device 2100 having improved integrationdensity and characteristics, characteristics of the computing system2000 may also be improved.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating an example of a computing system 3000according to an embodiment.

As illustrated in FIG. 11, a computing system 3000 according to anembodiment may include a software layer that has an operating system3200, an application 3100, a file system 3300, and a translation layer3400. The computing system 3000 may include a hardware layer such as amemory device 3500.

The operating system 3200 may manage software and hardware resources ofthe computing system 3000. The operating system 3200 may control programexecution of a central processing unit. The application 3100 may includevarious application programs executed by the computing system 3000. Theapplication 3100 may be a utility executed by the operating system 3200.

The file system 3300 may refer to a logical structure configured tomanage data and files present in the computing system 3000. The filesystem 3300 may organize files or data and store them in the memorydevice 3500 according to given rules. The file system 3300 may bedetermined depending on the operating system 3200 that is used in thecomputing system 3000. For example, when the operating system 3200 is aMicrosoft Windows-based system, the file system 3300 may be a fileallocation table (FAT) or an NT file system (NTFS). In addition, whenthe operating system 3200 is a Unix/Linux-based system, the file system3300 may be an extended file system (EXT), a Unix file system (UFS) or ajournaling file system (JFS).

FIG. 11 illustrates the operating system 3200, the application 3100, andthe file system 3300 in separate blocks. However, the application 3100and the file system 3300 may be included in the operating system 3200.

The translation layer 3400 may translate an address suitable for thememory device 3500 in response to a request from the file system 3300.For example, the translation layer 3400 may translate a logic address,generated by the file system 3300, into a physical address of the memorydevice 3500. Mapping information of the logic address and the physicaladdress may be stored in an address translation table. For example, thetranslation layer 3400 may be a flash translation layer (FTL), auniversal flash storage link layer (ULL), or the like.

The memory device 3500 may be a non-volatile memory. The memory device3500 may include the memory string described above and shown in FIGS. 1Ato 7B. The memory device 3500 may include a first cell structure, asecond cell structure, a pad structure, a circuit, and an opening. Thepad structure may be located between the first cell structure and thesecond cell structure, and may be electrically connected to the firstand second cell structures. The circuit may be located under the padstructure. The pad structure may include an opening formed therethroughto expose the circuit. A first stepped structure may be located at oneside of the opening and including first pads stacked on each other. Asecond stepped structure may be located at the other side of the openingand including second pads stacked on each other. Since the memory device3500 may be configured and manufactured the same as the memory devices1200, 1200′ or 2100, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The computing system 3000 having the above-described configuration maybe divided into an operating system layer that is operated in an upperlayer region and a controller layer that is operated in a lower levelregion. The application 3100, the operating system 3200, and the filesystem 3300 may be included in the operating system layer and driven byan operation memory. The translation layer 3400 may be included in theoperating system layer or the controller layer.

As described above, since the computing system 3000 according to anembodiment includes the memory device 3500 having improved integrationdensity and characteristics, characteristics of the computing system2000 may also be improved.

In accordance with various embodiments of the invention, the programspeed may be improved by reducing the distance between a circuit and acell structure. In addition, by reducing an area of a pad region,integration density may be improved, and processes may be simplified.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications can be made to the above-described exemplary embodimentsof the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover allsuch modifications provided they come within the scope of the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A semiconductor device, comprising: a first cellstructure; a second cell structure; a pad structure including a firststepped structure and a second stepped structure located between thefirst cell structure and the second cell structure, the first steppedstructure including first pads electrically connected to the first andsecond cell structures and stacked on top of each other, the secondstepped structure including second pads electrically connected to thefirst and second cell structures and stacked on top of each other; acircuit located under the pad structure; and an opening passing throughthe pad structure to expose the circuit and located between the firststepped structure and the second stepped structure to insulate the firstpads and the second pads from each other.
 2. The semiconductor device ofclaim 1, wherein: the first cell structure, the pad structure and thesecond cell structure are sequentially arranged in a first direction;the opening extends in the first direction; and the first steppedstructure, the opening and the second stepped structure are sequentiallyarranged in a second direction crossing the first direction.
 3. Thesemiconductor device of claim 1, further comprising a firstinterconnection structure electrically connecting, among the first padsand the second pads, a first pad to a second pad disposed at a samelevel and connecting the first and second pads electrically connected toeach other in common to the circuit through the opening.
 4. Thesemiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the pad structure comprises: afirst dummy stepped structure including first wiring lines stacked ontop of each other, the first wiring lines electrically connecting thefirst pads to the first and second cell structures; and a second dummystepped structure including second wiring lines stacked on top of eachother, the second wiring lines electrically connecting the second padsto the first and second cell structures.
 5. The semiconductor device ofclaim 4, wherein the first dummy stepped structure is located betweenthe first stepped structure and the opening, and the second dummystepped structure is located between the second stepped structure andthe opening.
 6. The semiconductor device of claim 5, wherein the firstdummy stepped structure has a greater height than the first steppedstructure and the second dummy stepped structure has a greater heightthan the second stepped structure.
 7. The semiconductor device of claim4, wherein the first cell structure includes first word lines stacked ontop of each other, the second cell structure includes second word linesstacked on top of each other, the first pads are connected to the firstand second word lines through the first wiring lines, and the secondpads are connected to the first and second word lines through the secondwiring lines.
 8. The semiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the firstcell structure includes first upper selection lines stacked on top ofeach other and the second cell structure includes second upper selectionlines stacked on top of each other, and the pad structure includes athird stepped structure including third pads stacked on top of eachother, the third pads respectively contacting the first upper selectionlines, and a fourth stepped structure including fourth pads stacked ontop of each other, the fourth pads respectively contacting the secondupper selection lines.
 9. The semiconductor device of claim 8, whereinthe third stepped structure is located between the first cell structureand the opening, and the fourth stepped structure is located between thesecond cell structure and the opening.
 10. The semiconductor device ofclaim 8, further comprising a second interconnection structureelectrically connecting, among the third pads and the fourth pads, athird pad to a fourth pad disposed at a same level.
 11. Thesemiconductor device of claim 1, further comprising: a thirdinterconnection structure electrically connecting the circuit to atleast one lowermost first pad, among the first pads; and a fourthinterconnection structure electrically connecting the circuit to atleast one lowermost second pad, among the second pads.
 12. Thesemiconductor device of claim 1, wherein the circuit is an X-decoder.13. A semiconductor device, comprising: a first cell structure includingfirst to 4n^(th) layers; a pad structure electrically connected to thefirst cell structure; and a circuit located under the pad structure,wherein the pad structure comprises: a first stepped structure includingfirst pads stacked on top of each other; a second stepped structureincluding second pads stacked on top of each other; an opening passingthrough the pad structure to expose the circuit and located between thefirst stepped structure and the second stepped structure to insulate thefirst pads and the second pads from each other; a first dummy steppedstructure located between the first stepped structure and the openingand including first wiring lines stacked on top of each other, the firstwiring lines electrically connecting the first pads to the first to3n^(th) layers of the first cell structure; and a second dummy steppedstructure located between the second stepped structure and the openingand including second wiring lines stacked on top of each other, thesecond wiring lines electrically connecting the second pads to the firstto 3n^(th) layers of the first cell structure.
 14. The semiconductordevice of claim 13, wherein the pad structure includes a third steppedstructure including third pads stacked on top of each other, the thirdpads contacting (3n+1)^(th) to 4n^(th) layers of the first cellstructure, and the third stepped structure is located between the firstcell structure and the opening.
 15. The semiconductor device of claim13, further comprising a second cell structure facing the first cellstructure with the pad structure interposed therebetween, the secondcell structure including first to 4n^(th) layers and being electricallyconnected to the pad structure.
 16. The semiconductor device of claim15, wherein the pad structure includes a fourth stepped structureincluding fourth pads stacked on top of each other, the fourth padscontacting (3n+1)^(th) to 4n^(th) layers of the second cell structure,and the fourth stepped structure is located between the second cellstructure and the opening.
 17. The semiconductor device of claim 15,wherein the first wiring lines electrically connect the first to 3n^(th)layers of the first cell structure to first to 3n^(th) layers of thesecond cell structure, respectively, and the second wiring lineselectrically connect the first to 3n^(th) layers of the first cellstructure to the first to 3n^(th) layers of the second cell structure,respectively.
 18. The semiconductor device of claim 17, wherein: thefirst cell structure, the pad structure and the second cell structureare sequentially arranged in a first direction; the opening extends inthe first direction; and the first stepped structure, the first dummystepped structure, the opening, the second dummy stepped structure andthe second stepped structure are sequentially arranged in a seconddirection crossing the first direction.
 19. The semiconductor device ofclaim 13, further comprising an interconnection structure electricallyconnecting, among the first pads and the second pads, a first pad and asecond pad disposed at a same level and connecting the first and secondpads electrically connected to each other in common to the circuitthrough the opening.
 20. The semiconductor device of claim 13, whereinthe circuit is an X decoder.